Straw-Delivery-Mechanism to provide automatic straw delivery from within a metal can

ABSTRACT

A metal beverage container having a bend-down tongue in its orifice, a telescopic straw, and a mechanism, with an attachment for the straw, to deliver this straw from within the container when the container has been opened.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

U.S. Pat. No. 6,491,184

U.S. Pat. No. 4,923,084

1. FIELD OF INVENTION

The Invention relates generally to beverage containers using abend-down-tongue to create an opening in the lid and specifically to animproved method to supply a more hygienic drinking environment and amore enjoyable drinking experience, than drinking directly from thecontainer.

2. DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

Numerous different Straw-delivery-mechanisms had been developed in priorart for metal beverage cans. All had flaws and none ever went into massproduction until today.

3. DISCUSSION OF NEW STRAW-DELIVERY-MECHANISM

My new invention (the straw-delivery-mechanism for automatic strawdelivery from within the metal can here referred as “the new mechanism”)covers many of those flaws and will overcome the shortcomings of priorart devices.

-   -   a) The new Mechanism is secure and cannot move or release the        straw when the can is closed.    -   b) The new Mechanism works reliable.    -   c) The new Mechanism is easy produced.    -   d) Already existing machinery can be used to produce the new        mechanism.    -   e) The new Mechanism is extremely low cost compared with prior        Art devices.    -   f) The new Mechanism can be made from the same material as the        Lid is made from.    -   g) The new Mechanism is easily mounted to the Lid.    -   h) The new Mechanism is easy implemented into the container.    -   i) The mounting procedures are more easily implemented into the        canning/filling production lines.    -   k) The contamination of the Aluminum container through the use        of other types of materials is prevented and therefore the        aluminum recycling process is not impaired.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows from below the Straw-delivery-mechanism in the can in itslocked position when the can is still closed.

FIG. 2 shows from below the Straw-delivery-mechanism in the can in itsfinal position when the straw has been released.

FIG. 3 shows the Straw-delivery-mechanism looking down on the can in asectional view from a 45 degree angle in its locked position when thecan is still closed.

FIG. 4 shows the Straw-deliver-mechanism looking down on the can in asectional view from a 45 degree angle in its final position when thestraw has been released.

FIG. 5 shows the arm of the Straw-delivery-mechanism that holds thestraw from a 45 degree top view.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEQUENCES PARTS INVOLVED

-   -   1. Lid    -   2. Inner, lower Rim of Lid    -   3. Outer, upper Rim of Lid    -   4. Straw delivery Mechanism    -   5. Spring    -   6. Strawholding Arm    -   7. Strawholder    -   8. Corrugated part of Straw-holding-Arm    -   9. Release Arm    -   10. Lock on Release Arm    -   11. Rivet    -   12. Bend-down tongue in the orifice    -   13. Orifice    -   14. Tab    -   15. Straw    -   16. Can

When the can opens (12) the straw-delivery-mechanism is released, thespring will force the mechanism to turn and finally to deliver thestraw.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In Three Steps

The Straw

The Straw (15) is a common telescopic straw as produced for several usesout of any convenient material.

The Straw-Delivery-Mechanism

The Straw delivery mechanism (4) is fabricated from aluminum. Themechanism (4) carries the following components.

-   -   a) A Rivet (11) with which the mechanism (4) on its turn point        (11 as well) is connected to the lid    -   b) The straw-holding arm (6) has a improved spring effect        through its corrugation (8). The straw-holder (7) lets the straw        only move in one direction out of the holder.    -   c) The release Arm (9) The tip of the release-arm (9) creates        the lock (10) in conjunction with the inner rim (2).    -   d) The Spring (5) supplies three forces        -   1) To turn the straw-delivery-mechanism (4)        -   2) To push the straw (15) on the arm (6) through the Orifice            (13)        -   3) To press the release-arm (9) against the lid (1) and to            lock the mechanism (4) against the inner rim (2)            The Straw-Holder (FIG. 5)

The straw-holder (7) has a serrated hole in which the straw is located.The serrated inside edge of the hole allows the hole to expand slightlyto maintain a firm grip on the straw and to allow the straw to move onlyin one direction through the hole.

When the Can is Closed (FIG. 1 & FIG. 3)

The Spring (5) presses against the wall (16) of the can. The pressureensures that the release-arm (9) stays in its locked position (10). TheStraw hits the lid (FIG. 3) and the strawholding arm (6) is benddownward.

When the Can is being Opened

The release arm (9) is unlocked and snaps over the inner rim (2) andstarts sliding along the conical portion of the can-wall on top of thecan (16). As the release-arm (9) is pushed down by the bend-down tongue(12) through the opening process, the entire mechanism (4) can turnbeing pushed by the spring (5), until the straw (15) reaches the opening(13) and the strawholding (6) arm can release the straw (15) to theoutside.

When the Can is Open (FIG. 2 & FIG. 4)

The straw (15) appears at the orifice (13) and sticks out about 1 inch.The strawholding arm (6) is larger than the orifice (13) and cannot bepulled out of the can. The telescopic straw can be easily pulled out ofthe straw holder and used for drinking but not pushed back into the can.After use the straw can be easy completely removed from the can ifwanted.

Several possible reasons exist for the complete removal of the straw:

-   -   a) The consumer may like to drink without a straw.    -   b) The consumer may want to drink the last remaining liquid.    -   c) The straw may be made out of plastic, and should be removed        before the can enters a recycling process

1. A “device for automatic delivery of a drinking straw” from the insideof a metal beverage container having an opening mechanism with abend-down-tongue.
 2. The device according to claim 1, and the way ofholding the straw in the strawholding arm.
 3. The device according toclaim 1, and the mechanism to lock the release-arm against the inner rimof the lid.
 4. The device according to claim 1, and the spring supplyingthe power to secure and turn the mechanism named in claim 1.